Green-corn cutter



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-#Sheet 1.

S. D. vWMRFIELD. GREEN CORN CUTTER.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2. S. D. WARPIELD.

GREEN CORN GUTTER.

No. 448,889. Patented Mar. 17,1891.

S. D. WARPIELD. GREEN CORN GUTTER.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 (No Model.)

No. 448,889. Patented Mar. 1'7, 1891.

-WFVNEEEEE- lfm/ENTE (No Model.) 5 sheets-sheet 4.

S. D. WARIEIELD.

GREEN CORN GUTTER. No. 448,389. Patented Mar. 1'7, 1891.

INVENTUFL- f WMM@ (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5. S. D. WARFIELD. GREEN CORN CUTTER.

No. 448,389. Patented Mar. 1'7, 1891 MEN TIEN-1L- me mmms arena cu., pHoro-nwo., wusnmmcu, u. c.

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SOLOMON DAVIES VARFIELD, OF BALTIHORE, MARYLAND.

GREENCORN CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,389, dated March 17, 1891. Application filed September 14, 1889. Serial No. 323,950. (No model.)

T0 LH whom. it may concern.,-

e it known that I, SOLOMON Davies Wan- FIELD, of` the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Green-Corn Cutters, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to certain improve ments in that class of corn-cutters in which the ear is forced through a cutting-head, as will hereinafter fully appear.

In the description of the said invention which follows reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which- Figures 1 and 2, taken together, represent an exterior side elevation of the improved machine, and Figs. 3 and i a plan view of the same. Fig. 5 is an exterior end view of the machine, except that a certain plate and a spout, which togetherform apart of the head, Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, except that in this case the entire head is removed. Fig. 7 is a crosssection of the frame and trough of the machine. Fig. Sis a cross-section of the centering device. Fig. 9 is a detail of the machine hereinafter described, and Fig. 10 san enlarged view of certain plungcrs used in the machine toillustrate their motions.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures. 4

In the said drawings, A isthe frame ofthe machine, supported by the legs a.

B is a trough secured Within the frame A, in which the ca'rs of corn to be cut are placed. (See Fig. 7, which is a cross-section of the frame and trough.) The upper edge of the l` rame A is turned downward and inward, sor `that its inner edge may lead to the outer edge of the trough, as seen in Fig. 7.

Gis an extensible device for guiding the ears of corn centrally to the cutting-head. This centering device consists of a tapered pipe of a quadrangular cross-section and with aaring mouthpiece. This centering device is made in two -sections b and l), as shown in Fig. S. By referring to that figure it will be seen that the sections when closed interlock at the bottom, but stand apart at the top or upper side, and thereby form a slot e, for a purpose hereinafter described.

The sections h have lugs d ln'ojeeting from their lower sides, to which arms D are rigidly attached. The lower ends of the arms D are pivoted to the legs a. To enforce acon j oined or common rnovementof the sections?) of the centering device as the same are distended and closed,l connect the arms by means of links f to the rod E,conf1ned in suitable bearingsg ou thelegs of the machine, and susceptible of a vertical movement in said bearings. (See Fig. 6.) A spring 7L serves to keep the centering device yieldingly in a closed position., and for this purpose it is confined between the lower bearing g and an adjustable set-collar i, fastened on the said rod. The arms are guided in their vbratory movement by means of a slotted plate F. A top view of this plate is shown in Fig. 9.

The mechanism which carries the ears to be out through the centering device to the cutting-head consists as follows: Au endless chain belt G in a slot in the trough B, having spudsj projecting from it, is rove around sprocketwheels H and l, whose shafts 7c and l are journaled in the frame A. Another sprocket-wheel J on the shaftl is united with a larger one K on the main driving-shaft L by means of a chain belt m. (Shown only in dotted lines.) The shaft L is supported by brackets M from the legs at the rear end of the machine. A driving-pulleyN on the shaft L is driven by a belt, which is not shown.

By reference to the drawings it will be seen that the chain belt, with its spuds, is adapt-ed to carry the ears into the centering device, but not through it. .The latter part of the movement of the ear, or that through the centeringdevice to the knives, is effected by devices which I will now describe.

O and P are rocking bars, preferably of some polygonal shape of cross-section, having gudgeons u, which rest loosely in brackets o at one end and in angular plates p at the other. These plates serve to unite the frame with the cutting-head, hereinafter alluded to. The arrangement of the plates p so that they will hold the cutting-head to the frame and at the same time support the forward ends of the rocking bars is not important, and I do not confine myself to it.

Q and R are plungers which project from blocks S and T, which are adapted to slideon the rockinghars. These plun gers, which force ICO VIO

the ears through the centering device and through the knives, pass longitudinally of the same to near the knives of the cutting-head, and the rocking movement to which they are subjected is to allow the two plungers to pass and not comein contactand strike each other. The neck of each plunger is made narrow, so that it may traverse the slot or space between the upper et ges of the two sections of the centering device, and to enable the plunger to passv from the centering device after it has completed its forward or effective stroke the slot c at the forward end is enlarged or widened, as shown at Fig. 3.

The rocking of the bars O and P, and in consequence the raising and lowering of the plungers so that they may move forward eentrallyof the centeringdevice and return eXteriorly of it, is effected by means of levers U and V, f ulcru med at r and s to the bracket t on the under side of the frame A. The said levers at one end are provided with rollers a, which bear against the inner edge o of the cams W on the shaft L, and at the other are drawn down or formed into cylindrical pins a', which pass loosely through arms b', the hubs of which are fastened to the gudgeons n of the rocking bars. Springs c' (shown in Fig. 5') retain the rollers u in contact with the edges of the cams W. These cams' are placed on the drivingshaft in opposite directions-that is to say, the center of the full part of one cam is diametrically opposite that of the other, and consequently in one revolution of the drivingshaft the rocking bars are both tilted and brought back to their original positions, but at different times. The positions assumed by the plungers during the forward and return strokes is illustrated in Fig. IO, in which they are shown in full and dotted lines.

The forward and backward strokes of the plungers Q and R are effected by means of connecting-rods X. and Y, which are pivoted to lugs d' on the under side of the blocks S and T and attached at their other ends to cranks A' and B', preferably formed as parts of the cams W.

The cutting-head, which as an entirety is designated by C', corresponds in nearly all essential particulars with those described and shown in Letters Patent granted to me and numbered 281,588, 304,149, and 316,701, to which reference should be had. head, briefly described, consists in an annular plate secured in any suitable manner to the frame A, with its center in alignment with the plungers as the same are moved forward and with the centering device. This plate is provided with equidistant holders, in which knife-plates carrying knives and adjustable gages are adapted to slide radially of the said annular plate. These knives are interlocking and are denoted by e'. In place of the gagingrollers described in the said Letters Patent I use in the present invention Haring metal gages f', held adjustably to the knifeplates, which are denoted by D'. Gagingi normally-closed position.

The said l rollers such as the ones shown in the said Letters Patent, or any other gaging devices, may, however, be used instead of the metal gages, and I do not therefore limit myself to any particular devices for gaging the depth of cut of the knives.

E' E' are toothed hollow-faced rollers situated in the rear of the knives and adapted to grasp the cob after the grain has been removed therefrom in the cutting operation. These rollers are fastened to shafts g' g', which revolve in bearing-boxes h.' h' in a frame F', which is secured to the cuttinghead. (See Figs. l and 3.) These bearingbOXes are pivoted at 'i' to the rear plates j of the frame F'.

G' G are gears, which unite the shafts g at their rear ends. The outer face of one of these gears is made a double gear, and it engages with a beveled gear k' on the drivingshaft Z'. The inner plate m' of the frame F is slotted where the bearing-boxes h' pass through it to admit of the decession and approach of the toothed grasping-rollers E in the grasping and releasing of the cob in the operation of the machine.

It will be understood that the gears G are so near to the pivots on which the bearingboXes h' vibrate that in the decessien and approach of the grasping-rollers the interlocking of their teeth is not materially affected.

Springs Il serve to yieldingly retain the grasping-rollers together. These springs are attached to the fratrie F' and bear on the boxes h', as shown. Bolts a' are employed to change the tension of the springs H', as will be readily understood. In the rear of the rst pair of grasping-rollers E' are situated the rst of a series of scrapers I. These Scrapers, four in number, are in two pairs, arranged with one pair in advance of the other. They consist of levers J', fulcrumed at o' to brackets K', which are fastened to the frame F' by means of bolts p'. The free ends of these levers are dared and curved to produce scraping-edges. Springs L', having tensionbolts q', keep the Scrapers of each pair in a In the rear of these Scrapers are located the second pair of grasping-rollers M', and by reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that they correspond in construction with those before described, and vare driven in a similar manner. In the rear of the second pair of grasping-rollers I place, a second series of Scrapers N', which correspond in all essential particulars with those before described, except that they are set to scrape in different parts of the circumference of the ear. In the rear of these Scrapers are situated the last pair of grasping-rollers E2, which are similar in form and construction to. those already described.

O' is a spout in an inclined position to guide the cobs in their discharge.

The operation of the machine is entirely too rapid to admit of the ears being placed in the trough hyhand. I therefore use in connec- TOO IIO

tion 'with the machine a feedingor ear-dropping device, which is described and 'claimed in Letters Patent No. 310,000, granted to me on .the 30th day of December, 18S-i, and to which reference should be had. Brietiy described the ear-dropping device consists in two inclined tables P', bolted to the sides of the frame A. These inclined tables have slots r', through which fingers, which constitute parts of the lifters Q', are adapted to be elevated, and thereby lift the ears over an elevated edge of the table, so that they may fall into the trough. The lifters of the droppers or feed-tables in the present invention are connected to the ends of levers s by means of links t', and the other ends of the /levers are in contact witlrthe edges of the cams IV, which are provided with lugs u. Springs retain the said levers in contact with the cams. The lugs of the two cams are diametrically opposite to each other, and this effects an alternate dropping of ears from the two tables,

- as described in the said Letters Patent.

The machine being in operation, the ears of corn,which are placed side by side on the feedtables, points first, drop alternately from the two feeding-tables to the trough and between the spuds which project from the endless feedbelt, and are by them carried longitudinally of the machine toward the cutting-head and into the centering` device C, where Vthey are left as the feeding-chain falls, as it does in passing around the sprocket-wheel I. rThe centering device when closed is adapted to the smallest ears of corn. Consequently when larger ears are inserted therein the two sections of the device separate, and in view of their shape in cross-section and the employment of the toggle-bars or` links fand the rod F, as described, ears of all sizes are accurately centered. As soon as the ear is left by the feeding-belt in the centering` device one of the plungers, either Q or R, advances cen-` trally of the machine or the cutting mechanism thereof, and, coming in contact with the butt ofthe now centered ear, forces it through the centering device, t-he gages, and the cutting-knives and to between the first pair of grasping-rollers. It will be understood, however, that the forward stroke ofthe plunger is such that it is carried through the gages and to within clearance distance of the knives, but not through them. The plunger now returns, still in the center line of the cuttinghead, until it is clear of the gages, when the roller on the lever passes to the depressed portion of the cam, with which it is in contact, and the rocking bar is tilted so as to bring the plunger through the enlarged portion of the slot c to the outside of the centering device, and to a position where it can pass the other plunger and the next ear which is being carried by that plunger through the centering device. The plunger continues to move backward in an elevated position until it has passed the entrance of the centering device, when the raised portion of the cam again becomes operative, and the plunger lowered to the center line of the machine and in the rear of another centered ear. From the foregoing it will be understood that as one of the plungers is moving forward the otheris being carried back. Consequently the two plungers are continually passing each other, but as they are in different planes no collision can take place.

It is evident that the plungers could be adapted to pass entirely through the cutting and scraping mechanism, thus dispensing with the grasping-rollers; but by stopping the plungers short of the knives, instead of allowing them to pass between them, a plunger of much greater diameter can be employed, thus presenting to the butt of the ear a larger carrying or pushing surface, and thereby preventing any liability to split the ear, which frequently occurs where a plunger is made small enough to run through the knives. Further, any plunger adapted to pass through or between the knivesis liable,owing either to the spring of the material or loose bearings, to strike the knives and injure or break them. Again, the absence of an entering plunger admits of the knives being set closer together, and the smallest ear of corn can be cut.

I claim as my invention--` e 1. In a green-corn cutter, a series of Aplungers having a common movement and the same office, combined with a single cutting mechanism and meansforbringing said plungers by turns into operation, substantially as specified.

2. In a green-corn cutter, a series of reciprocating plungers having a common movement and the same office, combined with a single cutting mechanism and means for bringing said plungers by turns into operation, substantially as specified.

3. In a green-corn cutter, a plunger adapted to force ears of corn to a cutting mechanism, combined with a second plunger substantially like the first, and means whereby one plunger, as it returns from the forcing stroke, is moved to a different plane to make way for the forward movement of the other, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a green-corn cutter, a series of reciprocating plungers which move forward and -return in different planes and have a common movement and the same oice, combined with a single cutting mechanism, to which they force the ears, substantially as specified.

5. In a green-corn cutter, a series of plungers which move forward and return in different planes and have a'common movement and the same oftice, combined with a single cutting mechanism and a feed mechanism whereby the ears are supplied to the said plungers, substantially as specified.

6. In a green-corn cutter, a series of reciprocating plungers which move forward and return in ditferent planes and have a common movement and the same office, combined IOO IIO

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with a single cutting mechanism and a feed mechanism whereby the cars are supplied to the said plungcrs, substantially as specified.

7. In a green-corn cutter, a plun ger adapted to force ears of corn to a cutting mechanism, combined with a second plunger and means, substantially as described, to move the said plungers to different planes, so that they may pass each other, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. In a green-corn cutter, a plunger adapted to force ears of corn to a cutting mechanism, combined with a similar plunger and means, substantially as described, whereby the direction of movement of the two plnngers is altered, so that they may pass each other, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. In a green corn cutter, two reciprocating' plungers, combined with actuating mechanism whereby the said plungers are alternately moved from their path, so that in their reciprocating movement they may pass each other, substantially as specified.

l0. In a green-corn cutter, the combination of a` centering device, a rocking bar, a block to slide on the same, a plunger which projects from the said block, and means to move the said block forward and backward on the said bar, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

ll. In a greencorn cutter, the combination of a centering device, a rocking bar, a block adapted to slide on the rocking bar, a plunger which projects from the said sliding and rocking block, a second rocking bar and reciprocating plunger, and means whereby the movements of the plungers are alternately effected, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

l2. In a green-corn cutter, the combination of a centering` device, a bar having axial pivots or gudgeons, a block carrying a plunger adapted to slide on the said bar, a lever attached to the said pivoted bar, having at its outer end a roller, a cam in contact with the said roller, and means to revolve the cam and thereby rock the pivoted bar, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

125. In a green-corn cutter, the combination of a centering device, a bar having axial piv ots or gudgeons, a block carrying a plunger adapted to slide on the said bar, a lever att-ached to the said bar connected at its outer end with a cam to vibrate it, and a connecting-rod leading from the said sliding block to a crank, whereby the said plungeris given a reciprocating movement and alsoa rocking eea-sse one, substantially`- as and for the purpose specified.

14.. In a green-corn cutter, a centering device in two sections which interlock at the bottom and stand apart at the top, thereby forming a slot, combined with a plunger having a longitudinally reciprocating and a rocking motion, and means to move the plunger from the said centering device through the said slot, substantially and for the purpose specified.

l5. In a green-corn cut-ter, a frame, a ceutering device, a trough in the said frame, a sprocket-wheel in front of the said centering device and another in the rear of the machine, a chain belt mounted on the said Sprocket-wheels, which moves longitudinally of the machine, and a plunger to force the ear left by the chain belt through the centering device, combined substantially as and for the purpose specified.

16. In a green-corn cutter, cutting-knives and a plunger to carry the ear to between the knives and to stop short of the same, combined with clasping devices to complete the unfinished forward movement of the ear, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

17. A cen tering device for a green-corn cut.- ter, which consists of two hollow sections having a flared mouth-piece extending 1ongitudinall y thereof, and springs to retain the said sections yieldingly in a closed position, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

18. A centering device for agreen-corn cutter, which consists of two hollow sections having a flared mouth-piece extending longitudinally thereof, the said sections being on pivoted bars connected by a toggle to a center rod, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

19. In a green-corn cutter, an endless feeding mechanism, combined with reciprocating plnngers, which receive the ears and successively force the same to the cutting mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

20. In a green-corn cutter, an endless feeding mechanism,- combined with a series of reciprocating plnngers to receive the ears and force the same to the cutting-knives, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

SOLOMON DA VIES VARFIELD.

Witnesses:

WM. T. HOWARD, DANL FISHER.

IOO 

